1. Art School Confidential OK so this one is not about any particular artist but it's about art school so it counts. Just about every single art school cliche is showcased in this movie.

2. Before Night FallsRead the book, watched the movie and fell in love with this author. The autobiographical manuscript for this book was smuggled out of Cuba in order for it to be published.

3. Coco Before ChannelI just love watching movies about artists from humble beginnings who made it big.

4. Exit Through the Gift Shop Documentary style movie about a film maker's journey to meet the infamous graffiti artist named Banksy. Or, according to some of my more discriminating friends, the movie is made by Banksy himself and is just another expression of his art.

5. Factory Girl I took the train and walked through a scary neighbourhood in East Vancouver way later than I should have to watch this movie during opening week. Totally worth it. It's the tragic, beautiful story of socialite Edie Sedgwick and her relationship with Andy Warhol. In it, we get a peek inside Warhol's infamous "Factory". Oh come on, haven't you ever dreamed about stopping by for a visit?! Well, OK. Maybe it's just me.

6. FridaI remember reading that after Salma Hayek made this film, Salma was convinced Frida's family was going to hate her because they had hated every other movie made about Frida's life. To Salma's astonishment, Frida's family thanked her. They said that this movie was the closest anyone had ever come to telling Frida's story. This movie is my favorite.

7. Girl with a Peal Earring The movie is about the painter Johannes Vermeer and his muse, Scarlett Johansson. Who wouldn't have a crush on her?

8. Little Ashes I dragged my poor, sweet mom to an indy theater in Calgary to watch this movie. Not surprisingly, it never played in regular theaters. I think I can safely speak for my mom when I say that there was a bit too much gay sex in it for her taste. It's the story of Salvador Dali. From the time he arrives in art school, skips art school, makes super cool friends, makes amazing art and becomes the Dali we all know him for. Any Robert Pattinson fans out there? Well, you get to see him standing naked in front of the mirror with his um, "junk" tucked between his legs. Interesting. Seriously though, it was great acting.

9. PollockSo good. So good. Even though he cheated on his wife and died in a car accident as a result of his alcoholism. Oops. Did I just spoil the ending for some of you?

10. Surviving Picasso It's the story of one of Picasso's enduring loves, Francoise Gilot. Learned a lot about Picasso. Half way through the movie I wanted to strangle Picasso myself.

You missed Andrei Rublev by Tarkovsky. One of my all time favs. It's on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PAhbcy8mP4&oref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D1PAhbcy8mP4
Don't forget to turn on the captions.

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This blog was created to share my belief that the art making process can be a vehicle for empowerment. I am living proof.